Love of life-long learning

Greetings to you all ka! Hope life isn't too jammed unlike the traffic which seems to be very much so these days na ka.

 

The issue on 'Students First' has been on my mind for long and the more we work on quality systems, the more I feel our focus on 'Students First' is far from common in our Thai context.

 

We still have our top down/ authority-led management on our curriculum development, on students' activities, and exchange programs, ‘guiding students to do what WE think they must/need/should do!

 

One article I read just now made me think of this very issue again ka. The title is, 'The Challenge of Educating the Educated’ by Balasubramanian G.

 

It talks about two sides of learning of the educated. On one end, the author points out that “I know” syndrome can be ‘the greatest inhibitor to further learning and is a reflection of inflexible attitude grounded on a comparative ego.’

 

On the other, “the Learned Helplessness” can cause ‘self-pity, low self-esteem and fear of the unknown’, hindering people’s further development.

 

His statement, which reads “Pseudo-intellectualism is more dangerous than ignorance in a developing organization which is part of the knowledge economy.” ignites more thinking too!

Let me share my own thinking ka:

• The three L’s, Life-long Learning, is forever classic! How could we build in the 4^th L—to read, ‘Love of Life-long Learning’?
• What could we along with the students do for the two groups… the ‘I know’ syndrome and the ‘helplessness’…. to strike the right balance for increased and continuous learning? Whatever we’ve provided them may need to be adjusted to respond better with the types of students we have.
• Such syndromes are also seen among our administrators and faculty, though in our context, it’s likely we don’t reveal our ignorance for fear of losing our face and respect. How could our HR plan be developed for them?
• How could we slowly tear down the ‘authority/seniority-led’ wall in some situations/settings for all to share more freely and comfortably to maximize the level of learning acquisition?